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CONGO-AMITY,  COMMERCE,  AND  NAVIGATION. 


TREATY 

BETWEEN 


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THE  UNITED  STATES  OF  AMERICA  AND  THE  INDEPENDENT 

STATE  OF  THE  CONGO 


OF 


AMITY,  COMMERCE,  AND  NAVIGATION. 


Concluded  at  Brussels ,  January  24,  1891; 

Ratification  advised  by  the  Senate  January  11,  1892; 
Ratified  by  the  President  January  19,  1892; 

Ratified  by  the  Sovereign  King  of  the  Independent  State  of  the 
Congo  February  2,  1892; 

Ratifications  exchanged  February  2,  1892; 

Proclaimed  April  2,  1892. 


By  the  President  of  the  United  States  of  America. 

A  PROCLAMATION. 

Whereas  a  Treaty  of  Amity,  Commerce  and  Navigation,  between  the 
United  States  of  America  and  the  Independent  State  of  the  Congo,  was 
signed  by  their  Plenipotentiaries  at  the  City  of  Brussels,  on  the  24th 
day  of  January,  1891,  the  original  of  which  Treaty,  being  in  the  English 
and  French  languages,  and  as  amended  by  the  Senate  of  the  United 
States,  is  word  for  word  as  follows : 

TREATY  0E  AMITY,  COMMERCE  AND  NAVIGATION. 

The  United  States  of  America, 
and 

His  Majesty  Leopold  II,  King  of 
the  Belgians,  Sovereign  of  the 
Independent  State  of  the  Congo, 
desiring  to  perpetuate,  confirm  and 
encourage  the  relations  of  com¬ 
merce  and  of  good  understanding 
existing  already  between  the  two 
respective  countries  by  the  con¬ 
clusion  of  a  treaty  of  amity,  com- 


Les  Etats-Unis  d’Am6rique,  et 

Sa  Majeste  Leopold  II,  Roi  des 
Beiges,  Souverain  de  EE  tat  Ind6- 
pendant  du  Congo, 
desirant  consacrer,  confirmer  et  en- 
oourager  les  rapports  de  commerce 
et  de  bonne  intelligence  existant 
deja  entre  les  deux  pays  respectifs 
par  la  conclusion  d’un  traite  d’ami- 
tie,  de  commerce,  de  navigation  et 


2 


merce,  navigation  and  extradition, 
have  for  this  purpose  named  as 
their  respective  plenipotentiaries, 
viz : 

His  Excellency,  the  President  of 
the  United  States  of  America, 
Edwin  H.  Terrell,  Envoy  Extraor¬ 
dinary  and  Minister  Plenipotenti¬ 
ary  of  the  United  States  of  Amer¬ 
ica  near  His  Majesty  the  King  of 
the  Belgians;  and 

His  Majesty,  Leopold  II  King  of 
the  Belgians,  Sovereign  of  the  Inde¬ 
pendent  Stkte  of  the  Congo, 

Edm.  Van  Eetvelde,  Adminis¬ 
trator  General  of  the  Department 
of  Foreign  Affairs,  Officer  of  His 
Order  of  Leopold, 
who,  after  having  communicated 
to  each  other  their  full  powers, 
found  in  good  and  due  form,  have 
agreed  upon  the  following  articles : 

Article  I. 

There  shall  be  full,  entire  and 
reciprocal  liberty  of  commerce, 
establishment  and  navigation  be¬ 
tween  the  citizens  and  inhabitants 
of  the  two  High  contracting  Parties. 

The  citizens  and  inhabitants  of 
the  United  States  of  America  in 
the  Independent  State  of  the  Con¬ 
go  and  those  of  the  Independent 
State  of  the  Congo  in  the  United 
States  of  America  shall  have  recip¬ 
rocally  the  right,  on  conforming  to 
the  laws  of  the  country,  to  enter, 
travel  and  reside  in  all  parts  of 
their  respective  territories ;  to  carry 
on  business  there;  and  they  shall 
enjoy  in  this  respect  for  the  pro¬ 
tection  of  their  persons  and  their- 
property  the  same  treatment  and 
the  same  rights  as  the  natives,  or 
the  citizens  and  inhabitants  of  the 
most  favored  nation. 

They  can  freely  exercise  their 
industry  or  their  business,  as  well 
wholesale  as  retail,  in  the  whole 
extent  of  the  territories,  without 
being  subjected,  as  to  their  persons 
or  their  property,  or  by  reason  of 
their  business,  to  any  taxes,  gen¬ 
eral  or  local,  imposts  or  conditions 
whatsoever  other  or  more  onerous 


d’extraditiomont,  acet  effet,  nomine 
pour  leurs  plenipotentiaries  respec- 
tifs,  savoir: 

Son  Excellence  le  President  des 
Etats-Unis  d’Amerique, 

Edwin  H.  Terrell,  Envoy 6  Extra¬ 
ordinaire  et  Ministre  Plenipoten- 
tiaire  des  Etats-Unis  d’Amerique 
pres  Sa  Majeste  le  Itoi  des  Beiges, 
et 

Sa  Majesty  Leopold  II,  Roi  des 
Beiges,  Souverain  de  l’Etat  Inde- 
peudant  du  Congo, 

Edm.  Van  Eetvelde,  Adminis- 
trateur  General  du  Departement 
des  Affaires  Etrangeres,  Officier  de 
Son  Ordre  de  Leopold, 
lesquels,  apres  s’etre  communique 
leurs  pleins  pouvoirs,  trouves  en 
bonne  et  due  forme,  sont  convenus 
des  articles  suivants : 

Article  I. 

II  y  aura  liberte  pleine,  entffire 
et  reciproque  de  commerce,  d’eta- 
blissement  et  de  navigation  entre 
les  citoyens  et  habitants  des  deux 
Hautes  Parties  contractantes. 

Les  citoyens  et  habitants  des 
Etats-Unis  d’Amerique  dans  l’Etat 
In  dependant  du  Congo,  et  ceux  de 
l’Etat  Independant  du  Congo  dans 
les  Etats-Unis  d’Amerique,  auront 
lhciproquement  la  faculte,  en  se 
conformant  aux  lois  du  pays,  d’en- 
trer,  voyager  et  sejourner  dans 
toutes  les  parties  de  leurs  terri- 
toires  respectifs;  d’y  faire  le  com¬ 
merce;  et  ils  jouiront,  a  cet  egard, 
pour  la  protection  de  leurs  per- 
sonnes  et  de  leurs  biens,  du  uieine 
traitement  et  des  memes  droits  que 
les  nationaux  ou  les  citoyens  et 
habitants  de  la  nation  la  plus  fa- 
vorisee. 

Ils  pourront  librement  exercer 
leur  industrie  ou  leur  commerce, 
taut  en  gros  qu’en  detail,  dans 
toute  l’etendue  des  territoires, 
sans  etre  assujettis,  en  ce  qui 
eoncerne  leurs  personnes  ou  leurs 
proprietes,  ou  a  raison  de  leurs 
affaires,  a  des  taxes,'  generates 
ou  locales,  i  mpots  ou  conditions 


3 


than  those  which  are  imposed  or 
may  be  imposed  upon  the  natives 
other  than  non-civilized  aborigines, 
or  upon  the  citizens  and  inhabitants 
of  the  most  favored  nation. 


In  like  manner  they  will  enjoy 
reciprocally  the  treatment  of  the 
most  favored  nation  in  all  that 
relates  to  rights,  privileges,  exemp¬ 
tions  and  immunities  whatsoever 
concerning  their  person  or  their 
property,  and  in  the  matter  of 
commerce,  industry  and  naviga¬ 
tion. 

Article  II. 

In  all  that  concerns  the  acqui¬ 
sition,  succession,  possession  and 
alienation  of  property,  real  and 
personal,  the  citizens  and  inhabit¬ 
ants  of  each  of  the  High  contract¬ 
ing  Parties  shall  enjoy  in  the  teri- 
tories  of  the  other  all  the  rights 
which  the  respective  laws  accord 
or  shall  accord  in  those  territories 
to  the  citizens  and  inhabitants  of 
the  most  favored  nation. 


Article  III. 

The  citizens  and  inhabitants  of 
each  of  the  High  contracting  Par¬ 
ties  shall  be  exempt,  in  the  terri¬ 
tories  of  the  other,  from  all  per¬ 
sonal  service  in  the  army,  navy  or 
militia  and  from  all  pecuniary  con¬ 
tributions  in  lieu  of  such,  as  well  as 
from  all  obligatory  official  functions 
whatever,  except  the  obligation  of 
sitting,  within  a  radius  of  one 
hundred  kilometres  from  the  place 
of  their  residence,  as  a  juror  in 
judicial  proceedings;  furthermore, 
their  property  shall  not  be  taken 
for  the  public  service  without  an 
ample  and  sufficient  compensation. 

They  shall  have  free  access  to 
the  courts  of  the  other,  on  con¬ 
forming  to  the  laws  regulating  the 
matter,  as  well  for  the  prosecution 
as  for  the  defense  of  their  rights, 
in  all  the  degrees  of  jurisdiction 


quelconques,  autres  ou  plus  one- 
reux  que  ceux  qui  se  percoivent  ou 
pourront  etre  pergus  sur  les  natio- 
naux  autres  que  les  indigenes  non- 
civilises,  ou  sur  les  citoyens  et 
habitants  de  la  nation  la  plus 
favorisee. 

De  meine,  ils  jouiront  reciproque- 
ment  du  traitemeut  de  la  nation  la 
plus  favorisee  pour  tout  ce  qui 
touche  aux  droits,  privileges,  ex¬ 
emptions  et  immunities  quelcon¬ 
ques  en  ce  qui  concerne  leurs  per- 
sonnes  et  leurs  proprietes,  et  en 
matiere  de  commerce,  d’industrie 
et  de  navigation. 

Article  II. 

Pour  tout  ce  qui  concerne  l’ac- 
quisition,  la  succession,  la  posses¬ 
sion  et  l’alienation  des  proprietes 
mobilieres  et  iminobilieres,  les 
citoyens  et  habitants  de  chacune 
des  II antes  Parties  contractantes 
jouiront  dans  les  territories  de 
l’autre  de  tons  les  droits  que  les 
lois  respectives  accordent  ou 
accorderont,  dans  ces  territoires, 
aux  citoyens  et  habitants  de  la 
nation  la  plus  favorisee. 

Article  III. 

Les  citoyens  et  habitants  de 
chacune  des  Hautes  Parties  con¬ 
tractantes  seront  exempts,  dans  les 
territoires  de  l’autre,  de  tout  service 
personnel  dans  1’armee,  la  marine 
ou  les  indices,  et  de  toutes  contri¬ 
butions  pecuniaires  qui  en  tien- 
draieut  lieu,  ainsi  que  de  toutes 
fonctions  officielles  obligatoires 
quelconques,  sauf  l’obligation  de 
sieger,  dans  uu  rayon  de  cent  kilo¬ 
metres  du  lieu  de  leur  residence, 
coniine  jur6  dans  les  procedures 
judiciaires;  en  outre,  leurs  biens 
ne  pourront  pas  etre  requis  pour 
le  service  public  sans  une  compen¬ 
sation  ample  et  suffisante. 

Ils  auront  un  libre  acces  aupres 
des  tribunaux  de  l’autre,  en  se  con¬ 
formant  aux  lois  regissant  la  ma¬ 
tiere,  tant  pour  la  poursuite  que 
pour  la  defense  de  leurs  droits,  & 


4 


established  by  law.  They  can  be 
represented  by  lawyers,  and  they 
shall  enjoy,  in  this  respect,  and  in 
what  concerns  domiciliary  visits 
to  their  houses,  manufactories, 
stores,  warehouses,  etc.,  the  same 
rights  and  the  same  advantages 
which  are  or  shall  be  granted  to 
the  citizens  and  inhabitants  of  the 
most  favored  nation,  or  to  natives. 


Article  IV. 

The  citizens  and  inhabitants  of 
the  two  countries  shall  enjoy,  in 
the  territory  of  the  other,  a  full 
and  entire  liberty  of  conscience. 
They  shall  be  protected  in  the  free 
exercise  of  their  worship;  they 
shall  have  the  right  to  erect  reli¬ 
gious  edifices  and  to  organize  and 
maintain  missions. 

Article  V. 

It  will  be  lawful  for  the  two  High 
contracting  Parties  to  appoint  and 
establish  consuls,  vice-consuls, 
deputy-consuls,  consular  agents 
and  commercial  agents  in  the  ter¬ 
ritories  of  the  other;  but  none  of 
these  agents  can  exercise  his  func¬ 
tions  before  having  received  the 
necessary  exequatur  from  the  Gov¬ 
ernment  to  which  he  is  delegated. 

The  said  agents  of  each  ot  the 
two  High  contracting  Parties  shall 
enjoy,  in  the  territories  of  the  other, 
upon  the  footing  of  a  complete  re¬ 
ciprocity,  all  the  privileges,  immu¬ 
nities  and  rights  which  are  actually 
granted  to  those  of  the  most  favored 
nation  or  which  may  be  accorded 
to  them  hereafter. 

The  said  agents,  citizens  or  in¬ 
habitants  of  the  State  by  which 
they  are  appointed,  shall  not  be 
subject  to  preliminary  arrest,  ex¬ 
cept  in  the  case  of  acts  qualified  as 
crimes  by  the  local  legislation  and 
punished  as  such.  They  shall  be 
exempt  from  military  billeting  and 
from  service  in  the  army,  navy  or 


tous  les  degres  de  juridiction 
etablis  par  la  loi.  Ils  pourront  se 
faire  representer  par  des  avocats, 
et  ils  jouiront,  k  cet  egard  et  en  ce 
qui  concerne  les  visites  domici- 
liaires  dans  leurs  maisons,  fa- 
briques,  magasins,  depots,  etc.,  des 
memes  droits  et  des  memes  avau- 
tages  qui  sont  on  seront  accordes 
aux  citoyens  et  habitants  de  la  na¬ 
tion  la  plus  favorisee,  on  aux  na¬ 
tional!  x. 

Article  IV. 

Les  citoyens  et  habitants  des 
deux  E  tats  jouiront,  surle  territoire 
de  l’autre,  d’une  liberte  de  con¬ 
science  pleineetentiere.  Ils  seront 
proteges  dans  le  libre  exercice  de 
leur  culte;  ils  auront  la  facnlte 
d’eriger  des  edifices  religieux  et 
d’organiser  et  de  maiutenir  des 
missions. 

Article  V. 

II  sera  loisible  aux  deux  Hautes 
Parties  contractantes  de  nommer 
et  etablir  des  consuls,  vice-consuls, 
consuls  suppleants,  agents  consu- 
laires  et  agents  commerciaux  dans 
les  territoires  de  1’ autre;  mais 
aucun  de  ces  agents  ne  pourra 
entrer  en  fonctions  avant  d’avoir 
regu  Pexequatur  necessaire  du 
Gouvernement  aupres  duquel  il  est 
delegue. 

Les  dits  agents  de  chacune  des 
deux  Hautes  Parties  contractantes 
jouiront,  dans  les  territoires  de 
Vautre,  sur  le  pied  d’une  complete 
reciprocate,  de  tous  les  privileges, 
immunites  et  droits  qui  sont  ae- 
tuellement  accordes  k  ceux  de  la 
nation  la  plus  favorisee  on  qui 
pourront  leur  etre  accordes  dans  la 
suite. 

Les  dits  agents,  citoyens  ou 
habitants  de  PEtat  par  lequel  ils 
sont  in  mimes  ne  seront  pas  sounds  a 
la  detention  preventive,  sauf  dans 
le  cas  defaits  qualifies  crimes  par 
la  legislation  locale  et  punis  comine 
tels.  Ils  seront  exempts  du  loge- 
ment  militaire  et  du  service  dans 
Parmee,  la  marine  on  les  indices, 


militia,  as  well  as  from  all  direct 
taxes,  unless  these  should  be  due 
on  account  of  real  estate,  or  unless 
the  said  agents  should  exercise  a 
profession  or  business  of  any  kind. 

The  said  agents  can  raise  their 
national  flag  over  their  offices. 

The  consular  offices  shall  be  at 
all  times  inviolable.  The  local  au¬ 
thorities  can  not  invade  them  un¬ 
der  any  pretext.  They  can  not  in 
any  case  examine  or  seize  the  pa¬ 
pers  which  shall  be  there  deposited. 
The  consular  office  can  not,  on 
the  other  hand,  serve  as  place  ol 
asylum,  and  if  an  agent  of  the  con¬ 
sular  service  is  engaged  in  business, 
commercial  or  other,  the  papers  re¬ 
lating  to  the  consulate  shall  be  kept 
separate. 

The  said  agents  shall  have  the 
right  to  exercise  all  the  functions 
generally  appertaining  to  consuls, 
especially  in  what  concerns  the 
legalization  of  private  and  public 
documents,  of  invoices  and  com¬ 
mercial  contracts,  the  taking  of  de¬ 
positions  and  the  right  of  authen¬ 
ticating  legal  acts  and  documents. 

The  said  agents  shall  have  the 
right  to  address  the  administrative 
and  judicial  authorities  of  the  coun¬ 
try  in  which  they  exercise  their 
functions  in  order  to  complain  of 
any  infraction  of  the  treaties  or 
conventions  existing  between  the 
two  Governments,  and  for  the  pur¬ 
pose  of  protecting  the  rights  and 
interests  of  the  citizens  and  i  inhabit¬ 
ants  of  their  country.  They  shall 
have  also  the  right  to  settle  all 
differences  arising  between  the 
captains  or  the  officers  and  the 
sailors  of  the  sea-vessels  of  their 
nation.  The  local  authorities  shall 
abstain  from  interfering  in  these 
cases  unless  the  maintenance  of  the 
public  tranquility  requires  it,  or, 
unless  their  assistance  should  be 
asked  by  the  consular  authority  in 
order  to  assure  the  execution  of  its 
decisions. 


ainsi  que  de  toutes  contributions 
directes,  a  moius  que  celles-ei  ne 
soient  dues  it  raison  de  proprietes 
immobilieres,  on  a  moius  que  les 
dits  agents  n’exercent  une  pro¬ 
fession  on  commerce  quelconque. 

Les  dits  agents  pourrontarborer 
leur  pavilion  national  sur  leurs 
chancelleries. 

Les  chancelleries  consulaires  se- 
ront  en  tout  temps  inviolables. 
Les  autorites  locales  ne  pourront 
y  penetrer  sous  aucun  pretexte. 
Elies  ne  pourront,  dans  aucun  cas, 
visiter  ni  saisir  les  papiers  qui  y 
seront  deposes.  Les  chancelleries 
consulaires  ne  pourront,  d’autre 
part,  servir  delieu  d’asile,  et  si  tin 
agent  du  service  consulaire  est 
engage  dans  des  affaires  commer- 
ciales  on  autres,  les  papiers  se  rap- 
portant  an  consulat  seront  tenus 
separement. 

Les  dits  agents  auront  le  droit 
d'exercer  toutes  les  fonctions  ap¬ 
purtenant  generalement  aiix  con¬ 
suls,  specialement  en  ce  qui  con- 
cerne  la  legalisation  de  documents 
prives  et  publics,  de  factures  et  de 
contrats  commerciaux,  la  reception 
de  depositions  et  la  faculte  de 
conferer  l’authenticite  aux  act.es  et 
documents  legaux. 

Les  dits  agents  auront  le  droit 
de  s’adresser  aux  autorites  admini- 
stratives  et  judiciaires  du  pays 
dans  lequel  ils  exercent  leurs  fonc¬ 
tions  pour  se  plaindre  de  toute  in¬ 
fraction  aux  traites  on  conventions 
existant  entre  les  deux  gouverne- 
ments,  et  dans  le  but  de  proteger 
les  droits  et  interets  des  citoyens 
et  habitants  de  leur  pays.  Ils  au¬ 
ront  aussi  le  droit  de  regler  tous 
les  differends  surgissant  entre  les 
capitaines  on  les  ofifleiers  du  bord 
et  les  matelots  des  navires  de  mer 
de  leur  natiou.  Les  autorites 
locales  s’abstiendront  d’intervenir 
dans  ces  cas,  a  moins  que  le  main- 
tien  de  la  tranquillity  publique  ne 
l’exige,  on  a  moins  que  leur  assis¬ 
tance  ne  soit  demandee  par  l’auto- 
ritff  consulaire  pour  assurer  l’exe- 
cution  de  ses  decisions. 


6 


The  local  authorities  will  give  to 
the  said  agents  and,  on  their  de¬ 
fault  to  the  captains  or  their  casual 
representatives,  all  aid  for  the 
search  and  arrest  of  sailor-desert¬ 
ers,  who  shall  be  kept  and  guarded 
in  the1  prisons  of  the  State  upon 
the  requisition  and  at  the  expense 
of  the  consuls  or  of  the  captains 
during  a  maximum  delay  of  two 
months. 

Article  VI. 

The  citizens  and  inhabitants  of 
each  of  the  High  contracting  Par¬ 
ties  shall  have  reciprocally,  accord¬ 
ing  to  the  same  rights  and  condi¬ 
tions  and  with  the  same  privileges 
as  those  of  the  most  favored  nation, 
the  right  to  enter  with  their  vessels 
and  cargos  into  all  the  ports  and 
to  navigate  upon  all  the  rivers  and 
interior  waters  of  the  other  State. 

The  vessels  of  each  of  the  con¬ 
tracting  Parties  and  of  its  citizens 
or  inhabitants  can  freely  navigate 
upon  the  waters  of  the  territory  of 
the  other,  without  being  subject  to 
any  other  tolls,  charges  or  obliga¬ 
tions  than  those  which  the  vessels 
belonging  to  the  citizens  or  inhab¬ 
itants  of  the  most  favored  nation 
would  have  to  bear. 

There  will  not  be  imposed  by 
either  of  the  contracting  Parties 
upon  the  vessels  belonging  to  the 
other  or  to  the  citizens  or  inhabit¬ 
ants  of  the  other,  in  the  matter 
of  tonnage,  port  charges,  pilotage, 
lighthouse  and  quarantine  dues, 
salvage  of  vessels  and  other  admin¬ 
istrative  expenses  whatsoever  con¬ 
cerning  navigation,  any  taxes  or 
charges  whatever,  other  or  higher 
than  those  which  are  or  shall  be 
imposed  upon  the  public  or  private 
vessels  of  the  most  favored  nation. 

It  is  agreed  that  every  vessel 
belonging  to  one  of  the  High  con¬ 
tracting  Parties  or  to  a  citizen  or 
inhabitant  of  one  of  them,  having 
the  right  to  bear  the  dag  of  that 
country  and  having  the  right  to  its 
protection,  both  according  to  the 


Les  autorites  locales  donneront 
aux  dits  agents  et,  a  leur  defaut, 
aux  capitaines  on  a  leurs  manda- 
taires  eventuels,  toute  aide  pour  la 
recherche  et  l’arrestation  cles  ma- 
rins  deserteurs,  qui  seront  detenus 
et  gardes  dans  les  prisons  de  l’Etat, 
a  la  requisition  et  aux  frais  des 
consuls  on  des  capitaines  pendant 
un  delai  maximum  de  deux  mois. 

Article  VI. 

Lescitoyens  et  habitants  de  clia- 
cune  des  Hautes  Parties  contrac- 
tantes  auront  reeiproquement,  aux 
memes  title  et  conditions  et  avec 
les  memes  privileges  que  ceux  de 
la  nation  la  plus  favorisee,  la  fa¬ 
culty  d’entrer  avec  leurs  navires  et 
chargements  dans  tons  les  ports 
et  de  naviguer  sur  toutes  les  rivieres 
et  les  eaux  interieures  de  l’autre 
Etat. 

Les  navires  de  chacune  des  Par¬ 
ties  contractant.es  on  de  ses  ci- 
toyens  on  habitants  pourront  uavi- 
guer  librement  sur  les  eaux  depen¬ 
dant  du  territoire  de  l’autre,  sans 
etre  sounds  a  d’autres  images, 
charges  ou  obligations  que  ceux 
qu’auraient  a  supporter  les  navires 
appartenant  aux  citoyens  ou  habi¬ 
tants  de  la  nation  la  plus  favorisee. 

11  ne  sera  impose  par  aucune  des 
Parties  contractantes  aux  navires 
appartenant  a  Fautre  ou  aux  ci¬ 
toyens  ou  habitants  de  Fautre,  en 
matiere  de  tonnage,  de  droits  de 
port,  de  pilotage,  de  droits  de  pliare 
et  de  quarautaiue,  de  sauvetagede 
navires  ou  d’autres  depenses  ad- 
miuistratives  quelconques  concer- 
nant  la  navigation,  de  taxes  ni 
charges  quelconques,  autres  ou 
plus  elevees  que  cedes  qui  sout  ou 
seront  imposees  aux  batiments  pu¬ 
blics  ou  prives  de  la  nation  la  plus 
favorisee. 

II  est  couvenu  que  tout  navire 
appartenant  a  l’une  des  Hautes 
Parties  contractantes  ou  a  un  ci- 
toyen  ou  habitant  de  l’une  d’elles, 
ayant  le  droit  de  porter  le  pavilion 
de  ce  pays  et  ayant  droit  a  sa  pro¬ 
tection,  le  tout  conformement  aux 


7 


laws  of  that  country,  shall  be  con¬ 
sidered  as  a  vessel  of  that  nation¬ 
ality. 

Article  VII. 

In  what  concerns  the  freight  and 
facilities  of  transportation,  and 
tolls,  the  merchandise  belonging 
to  the  citizens  or  inhabitants  of 
one  of  the  contracting  States  trans¬ 
ported  over  the  roads,  railroads 
and  waterways  of  the  other  State, 
shall  be  treated  on  the  same  foot¬ 
ing  as  the  merchandise  belonging 
to  the  citizens  or  inhabitants  of  the 
most  favored  nation. 

Article  VIII. 

In  the  territories  of  neither  of 
the  High  contracting  Parties  shall 
there  be  established  or  enforced  a 
prohibition  against  the  importa¬ 
tion,  exportation  or  transit  of  any 
article  of  legal  commerce,  produced 
or  manufactured  in  the  territories 
of  the  other,  unless  this  prohibition 
shall  equally  and  at  once  be  ex¬ 
tended  to  all  other  nations. 


Article  IX. 

[Stricken  out  by  the  Senate.] 
Article  X. 

The  Kepublic  of  the  United 
States  of  America,  recognizing  that 
it  is  just  and  necessary  to  facilitate 
to  the  Independent  State  of  the 
Congo  the  accomplishment  of  the 
obligations  which  it  has  contracted 
by  virtue  of  .the  General  Act  ot 
Brussels  of  July  2nd,  1890,  admits, 
so  far  as  it  is  concerned,  that  im¬ 
port  duties  nitty  be  collected  upon 
merchandise  imported  into  the  said 
State. 

The  tariff  of  these  duties  can  not 
go  beyond  10%  of  the  value  of  the » 
merchandise  at  the  port  of  impor¬ 
tation,  during  fifteen  years  to  date 
from  July  2nd,  1890,  except  for 
spirits,  which  are  regulated  by  the 
provisions  of  Chapter  VI  of  the 
General  Act  of  Brussels. 


lois  de  ce  pays,  sera  consider6 
comme  un  navire  de  sa  nationa¬ 
lity 

Article  VII. 

En  ce  qui  concerne  les  tarifs  et 
les  facilites  de  transport  et  les 
peages,  les  marchandises  apparte- 
nant  aux  citoyens  ou  habitants  de 
l’un  des  Etats  contractants,  trail  s- 
portees  sur  les  routes,  chemins  de 
fer  et  voies  navi  gables  de  1? autre 
Etat,  seront  traitees  sur  le  meme 
pied  que  les  marchandises  appurte¬ 
nant  aux  citoyens  ou  habitants  de 
la  nation  la  plus  favorisee. 

Article  VIII. 

Dans  les  territoires  d’aucune  des 
Hautes  Parties  contractantes,  il  ne 
sera  etabli  ni  mis  en  vigueur  de 
prohibition  a  l’egard  de  l’iinporta- 
tiou,  de  l’exportation  ou  du  tran¬ 
sit  d’aucun  article  cl’un  commerce 
legal,  produit  ou  manufacture  dans 
les  territoires  de  l’autre,  a  moins 
que  cette  prohibition  ne  soit  eten- 
due  egalement  et  en  meme  temps 
a  tontes  les  autres  nations. 


Article  X. 

La  Republique  des  Etats-Uuis 
d’Amerique,  reconnaissant  qu’il 
est  juste  et  necessaire  de  faciliter 
a  FEtat  Independant  du  Congo 
l’accomplissement  des  obligations 
qu’il  a  eontractees  en  vertu  de 
l’Acte  General  de  Bruxelles  du  2 
juillet  1890,  admet,  pour  ce  qui  la 
concerne,  que  des  droits  d’entree 
soient  permits  sur  les  marchandises 
importees  dans  le  dit  Etat. 

Le  tarif  de  ces  droits  ne  pourra 
depasser  10%  de  la  valeur  des 
marchandises  an  port  d’importa- 
tion  pendant  quiuze  ans  a  partir 
du  2  juillet  1890,  sauf  pour  les 
spiritueux,  qui  sont  regis  par  les 
dispositions  du  chapitre  vi  de 
l’Acte  General  de  Bruxelles. 


8 


At  tlie  expiration  of  this  term  of 
of  fifteen  years,  and  in  default  of  a 
new  accord,  the  United  States  of 
America  will  he  replaced,  as  to  the 
Independent  State  of  the  Congo, 
in  the  situation  which  existed  prior 
to  July  2nd,  1890;  the  right  to  im¬ 
pose  import  duties  to  a  maximum 
of  10%  upon  merchandise  imported 
into  the  said  State  remaining  ac¬ 
quired  to  it,  on  the  conditions  and 
within  the  limitations  determined 
in  articles  XI  and  XII  of  this 
treaty. 

Article  XI. 

The  United-States  shall  enjoy 
in  the  Independant  State  of  the 
Congo,  as  to  the  import  duties,  all 
the  advantages  accorded  to  the 
most  favored  nation. 

It  has  been  agreed  besides : 

1.  That  no  differential  treat¬ 

ment  nor  transit  duty  can 
be  established ; 

2.  That,  in  the  application  of 

the  tariff  regime  which 
will  be  introduced,  the 
Congo  State  will  apply 
itself  to  simplify  as  far  as 
possible,  the  formalities 
and  to  facilitate  the  oper¬ 
ations  of  commerce. 

Article  XII. 

Considering  the  fact  that  in  Ar¬ 
ticle  X  of  the  present  treaty  the 
United  States  of  America  have 
given  their  assent  to  the  establish¬ 
ment  of  import  duties  in  the  Inde¬ 
pendent  State  of  the  Congo  under 
certain  conditions,  it  is  well  under¬ 
stood  that  the  said  Independent 
State  of  the  Congo  assures  to  the 
flag,  to  the  vessels,  to  the  commerce 
and  to  the  citizens  and  inhabitants 
of  the  United  States  of  America, 
in  all  parts  of  the  territories  of 
that  State,  all  the  rights,  privi¬ 
leges  and  immunities  concerning 
import  and  export  duties,  tariff 
regime ,  interior  taxes  and  charges 
and,  in  a  general  manner,  all  com¬ 
mercial  interests,  which  are  or  shall 


A  l’expiration  de  ce  terme  de 
quinze  ans,  et,  a  defiant  d’un  nouvel 
accord,  les  Etats-Unis  d’Amerique 
se  retrouveront,  vis-a-vis  de  l’Etat 
In  dependant  du  Congo,  dans  la 
situation  qui  existait  anterieure- 
ment  an  2  juillet  1390,  la  faculte 
d’imposer  des  droits  d’entree  a  un 
maximum  de  10%  sur  les  m ar¬ 
ch  andises  importees  dans  le  dit 
Etat  lui  restant  acquise,  aux  con¬ 
ditions  et  dans  les  limites  deter- 
minees  aux  articles  xi  et  xn  de  ce 
traite. 

Article  XI. 

Les  Etats-Unis  jouiront  dans 
l’Etat  Independant  du  Congo* 
quant  aux  droits  d’entree,  de  tous 
les  avantages  accordes  a  la  nation 
la  plus  favorisee. 

II  a  etc  convenu  en  outre : 

1°.  Qu’aucun traitement differen- 
tiel  ni  droit  de  transit  nepourraetre 
etabli ; 

2°.  Que  dans  l’application  du  re¬ 
gime  douanier  qui  sera  introduit, 
l’Etat  du  Congo  s’attachera  a  sim¬ 
plifier,  autant  que  possible,  les  for¬ 
malities  et  a  faciliter  les  operations 
du  commerce. 


Article  XII. 

Eu  egard  an  fait  que  dans 
l’article  x  du  present  traite,  les 
Etats-Unis  d’Amerique  ont  donne 
leur  assentiment  a  l’etablisseinent 
de  droits  d'entree  dans  l’Etat  Inde¬ 
pendant  du  Congo  sous  certaines 
conditions,  il  est  bien  entendu  que 
le  dit  Etat  Independant  du  Congo 
assure  au  pavilion,  aux  navires,  au 
commerce  et  aux  cifoyens  et  habi¬ 
tants  des  Etats-Unis  d’Amerique, 
dans  toutes  les  parties  des  terri- 
toires  de  cet  Etat,  tous  les  droits* 
privileges  et  immunities  concernant 
les  droits  d’entree  et  de  sortie,  le 
regime  douanier,  les  taxes  et 
charges  interieures  et,  d’une 
maniere  generale  tous  les  interets 
commerciaux  qui  sont  on  seront 


k 


be  accorded  to  tlie  signatory  Pow¬ 
ers  of  the  Act  of  Berlin,  or  to  the 
most  favored  nation. 

Article  XIII. 

In  case  a  difference  should  arise 
between  the  two  High  Contracting 
Parties  as  to  the  validity,  interpre¬ 
tation,  application  or  enforcement 
of  any  of  the  provisions  contained 
in  the  present  treaty,  and  it  could 
not  be  arranged  amicably  by  diplo¬ 
matic  correspondence  between  the 
two  Governments,  these  last  agree 
to  submit  it  to  the  judgment  of  an 
arbitration  tribunal,  the  decision 
of  which  they  bind  themselves  to 
respect  and  execute  loyally. 

The  tribunal  will  be  composed  ot 
three  members.  Each  of  the  two 
High  contracting  Parties  will  des¬ 
ignate  one  of  them,  selected  out¬ 
side  of  the  citizens  and  the  inhab¬ 
itants  of  either  of  the  contracting 
States  and  of  Belgium.  The  High 
contracting  Parties  will  ask,  by 
common  accord,  a  friendly  Govern¬ 
ment  to  appoint  the  third  arbitra¬ 
tor,  to  be  selected  equally  outside 
of  the  two  contracting  States  and 
of  Belgium. 

If  an  arbitrator  should  be  unable 
to  sit  by  reason  of  death,  resigna¬ 
tion  or  for  any  other  cause,  lie  shall 
be  replaced  by  a  new  arbitrator 
whose  appointment  shall  be  made 
in  the  same  manner  as  that  of  the 
arbitrator  whose  place  he  takes. 

The  majority  of  arbitrators  can 
act  in  case  of  the  intentional  ab¬ 
sence  or  formal  withdrawal  of  the 
minority.  The  decision  of  the  ma 
jority  of  the  arbitrators  will  be 
conclusive  upon  all  questions  to  be 
determined. 

The  general  expenses  of  the  ar¬ 
bitration  procedure  will  be  borne, 
in  equal  parts,  by  the  two  High 
contracting  Parties;  but  the  ex¬ 
penses  made  by  either  of  the  par¬ 
ties  for  preparing  and  setting  forth 
its  case  will  be  at  the  cost  of  that 
party. 


accordes  aux  Puissances  signa- 
taires  de  l’Acte  de  Berlin,  ou  a  la 
nation  la  plus  favorisee. 

Article  XIII. 

Dans  le  cas  oil  un  differ  end  s’e- 
leverait  entre  les  deux  Hautes 
Parties  eontractantes  quant  a  la 
validite,  Finterpretation,  Pappli- 
cation  ou  la  mise  en  vigueur  d’une 
des  dispositions  contenues  dans  le 
present  traite,  et  qu’il  ne  pourrait 
etre  arrange  amicalement  par  corre- 
spoudance  diplomatique  entre  les 
deux  Gouvernements,  ces  derniers 
conviennent  de  le  soumettre  an 
jugement  d’un  tribunal  arbitral 
dont  ils  s’engagent  fi  respecter  et 
a  executer  loyalement  la  decision. 

Le  tribunal  sera  compose  de  trois 
membres.  Cliacune  des  deux 
Hautes  Parties  eontractantes  en 
designera  un,  choisi  en  dehors  des 
citoyens  et  des  habitants  de  Fun 
ou  l’autre  des  Etats  contractants 
et  de  la  Belgique.  Les  Hautes 
Parties  eontractantes  demande- 
ront,  de  commun  accord,  a  un  Gou- 
vernement  ami  de  nominer  le  troi- 
sieme  arbitre,  a  clioisir  egalement 
en  dehors  des  deux  Etats  contract- 
ants  et  de  la  Belgique. 

Si  un  arbitre  6tait  dans  Fimpos- 
sibilite  de  sieger  par  suite  de 
deces,  de  demission  ou  pour  toute 
autre  cause,  il  serait  remplace  par 
un  nouvel  arbitre  dont  la  nomina¬ 
tion  sera  f'aite  de  la  meme  maniere 
que  celle  deTarbitre  dont  il  preud 
la  place. 

La  majorite  des  arbitres  pent 
statuer  en  cas  d’absence  inten- 
tionnelle  ou  de  retraite  formelle  de 
la  minorite.  La  decision  de  la 
majorite  des  arbitres  sera  definitive 
sur  toutes  les  questions  a  resoudre. 

Les  depenses  generates  dela  pro¬ 
cedure  arbitrate  seront  supportees, 
a  parties  egales,  par  les  deux 
Hautes  Parties  eontractantes;  niais 
les  depenses  faites  par  1’une  ou 
l’autre  des  Parties  pour  preparer 
et  pour  exposer  sa  cause  seront  a 
la  charge  de  cette  Partie. 


10 


Article  XIV. 

It  is  well  understood  tliat  if  the 
declaration  on  the  subject  of  the 
import  duties,  signed  July  2nd, 
1890,  by  the  signatory  Powers  of 
the  Act  of  Berlin,  should  not  enter 
into  force,  in  that  case,  the  present 
treaty  would  be  absolutely  null 
and  without  effect. 


Article  XIV. 

II  est  bien  entendu  que,  si  la  de¬ 
claration  an  sujet  des  droits  d ’en¬ 
tree,  signee  le  2  juillet  .1890  par  les 
Puissances  signataires  de  l’Acte 
de  Berlin,  ne  devait  pas  entrer  en 
vigueur,  en  ce  cas,  le  present  traite 
serait  absolument  nul  et  sans  effet. 


Article  XV. 


Article  XV. 


The  present  treaty  shall  be  sub¬ 
jected  to  the  approval  and  the  rati¬ 
fication,  on  the  one  hand,  of  the 
President  of  the  United  States, 
acting  by  the  advice  and  with 
the  consent  of  the  Senate,  and,  on 
the  other  hand,  of  His  Majesty  the 
King  of  the  Belgians,  Sovereign  of 
the  1  ndependent  State  of  the  Congo. 

The  ratifications  of  the  present 
treaty  shall  be  exchanged  at  the 
same  time  as  those  of  the  General 
Act  of  Brussels  of  July  2nd,  1890, 
and  it  will  enter  into  force  at  the 
same  date  as  the  latter. 

In  faith  of  which  the  respective 
Plenipotentiaries  of  the  High  con¬ 
tracting  Parties  have  signed  the 
present  treaty  in  duplicate,  in 
English  and  in  French,  and  have 
attached  thereto  their  seals. 

Hone  at  Brussels  the  twenty- 
fourth  day  of  the  month  of  Jan¬ 
uary  of  the  year  Eighteen  hundred 
and  ninety  one. 

[seal.]  Edwin  II.  Terrell. 


Le  present  traite  sera  sounds  a 
l’approbation  et  a  la  ratification, 
d’une  part,  de  Son  Excellence  le 
President  des  Etats-Unis,  agissant 
de  l’avis  et  avec  le  consentement 
dn  Senat,  et  d’autre  part,  de  Sa 
Majeste  le  lioi  des  Beiges,  Sou- 
verain  de  I’Etat  Independant  dn 
Congo. 

Les  ratifications  dn  present  traite 
seront  echangees  en  meme  temps 
que  celles  de  l’Acte  General  de 
Bruxelles  du  2  j nil  let  1890,  et  il 
entrera  en  vigueur  a  la  meme  date 
que  celui-ci. 

En  foi  de  quoi,  les  Plenipoteu- 
tiaires  respect!  fs  des  II antes  Par¬ 
ties  contractantes  out  signe  le 
present  traite  en  double,  en  anglais 
et  en  francais,  etyont  appose  leurs 
cachets. 

Fait  a  Bruxelles,  le  vingt  qua- 
trierne  jour  du  mois  de  janvier  de 
l’an  m  i  1 1  in  i  t  cent  quatre- vingt-  o  n  ze. 

[sceau.J  Edm.  Van  Eetvelde. 


And  whereas  the  said  Treaty  has  been  duly  ratified  on  both  parts, 
and  the  ratifications  of  the  two  Governments  were  exchanged  in  the 
city  of  Brussels,  on  the  2nd  day  of  February,  1892: 

Xow,  therefore,  be  it  known  that  I,  Benjamin  Harrison,  President  of 
the  United  States  of  America,  liave  caused  the  said  Treaty  to  be  made 
public  as  amended,  to  the  end  that  the  same  and  every  article  and 
clause  thereof  may  be  observed  and  fulfilled  with  good  faith  by  the 
United  States  and  the  cit  izens  thereof. 

In  witness  whereof,  I  have  hereunto  set  my  hand  and  caused  the 
seal  of  the  United  States  to  be  affixed. 

Done  at  the  city  of  Washington  this  second  day  of  April,  in  the  year 
of  our  Lord  one  thousand  eight  hundred  and  ninety-two,  and  of  the 
Independence  of  the  United  States  the  one  hundredth  and  sixteenth. 

[seal.]  Benj.  Harrison. 

By  the  President  : 

James  G.  Blaine 
Secretary  of  State. 


O 


